GREATEST HITS!
Forum is now concluded for the year! We have all had an amazing experience throughout our first semester, getting to know each other in the HP family and learning where we "fit" in college. Personally, I can say that UNA is my home. I have the best of friends here, and could not feel more at home anywhere else. Roar, Lions! Now I will provide some of my favorite blog moments, and comment on them. Thanks for reading, and enjoy the ride.
September 1, 2012:
So far, my experience at UNA has been incredible. The first weekend of classes, I took a trip with the Honors Program freshmen -as you well know. As if being tossed into new culture at UNA was not enough! we were thrown into the raging chaos that is Memphis, Tennessee. As a well-traveled woman, I can honestly say that no other big city I have ever visited had such unique people...and smells.
Immediately after eating, we roamed around Beale Street. In case you didn't know, Reader, Beale street is a little nook tucked inside the heart of Memphis; it offers diversity in music, culture and beautiful urban decay (f one can picture such a place). On Beale street lie barricades. I wondered why the street was blocked off early in the day time, until the answer fell into my line of view. There were multiple men in their, oh say, early twenties? doing acrobatic flips, tumbles and "fulls" down Beale street. The Memphis natives seem to judge each other's stunts and then give rounds of applause suitable for the difficulty and execution of each person's performance.
Before the day was done, the group went down by the river and took pictures, while contemplating the meaning of life... I am totally joking. We did take pictures, though. We talked about back home and our families, but mostly we made connections with each other. This is where most of the bond began for us. After a long, long, and -did I say long?- walk around the park, my friends and I went back to Beale street, got ice cream, and returned to the hotel for the night. The entire trip was just an amazing opportunity that I am so thankful to have had. The bonds we form now are sure to last for the next four years as we, the best kids on campus, take on our futures hand in hand. Roar, Lions!
September 5, 2012:
WISDOM can be gained through love: achievement of falling in love, maturity of that love and loss of love as well. All of the stages of love make you wiser, particularly the demolition of love.
ACCOMPLISHMENT could not be possible without fervent love for the task one tries to complete. It is achieved by he who applies flourish to each thing he does. Only then, can one truly be an accomplished person.
COURAGE: Okay, we've all heard of this one. When a soccer mom is able to lift her van off the ground to save her child from being crushed beneath it. Do you seriously believe she could dare to believe she could do this without love? No. The mother has an unconditional love for her child, causing her to have the courage to lift the van at all costs.
CHALLENGE creates a drive inside us. That drive may be selfish, but it is a love for accomplishment, power, reward. Without the loving dedication we give to each challenge, each challenge would be failed.
And my favorite mentioned in this blog:
HOPE. "Hope requires the contender Who sees no virtue in surrender. From the cradle to the bier The heart must persevere." -Dean Koontz, Odd Thomas Koontz himself says in the last line of this quatrain the word "heart." "The heart must persevere." Not mind, not body, nor spirit or soul. Heart. Believe me, I could preach a day's sermon on the many aspects of this poem, but today's focus is on love, right? What Koontz is saying is basically this,"Who ever hopes for something must not let giving up be an option, no matter the cost. From first to last breath, should your heart keep you going." Ever since I read this in, say, tenth grade? I fell in love with the quote, and decided to make it one of my life's mantra. I have hope in all things, and I do so because I am in love with life itself.
Love: a four letter word. Easy to spell. Hard to believe. Love is everything. Love is a noun, a verb, and altogether lovely. It is altogether perfect.
Love is, all you need.
I rather admired this blog I put together about our first week or forum. It involved a number of human values and an inspirational quote, as well. I still stand by the fact that love is all you need, however, I believe that love should not just be for one another. This love should be widespread among the multiple aspects of your life.
September 13, 2012:
When I was a junior and early in senior year, everyone was shocked and dismayed to hear that I had no idea what my major was going to be. How could I possibly have known my major when I had had no personal experiences yet to show me what I love and what I'm good at? The thing that changed that happened in my senior year. It was a competition that NASA held. NASA partnered with UAH and hosted an engineering competition, in which I was my team's Project Manager. This required me to manage my group and present our project. I discovered that this was my passion and greatest talent.
Without the competition, I still would have no idea what I am meant to do with my future.
On the other hand, there are so many other things I see or take part in that make me think, "What if I should do this instead?" I frequently worry about the amount of hours I am taking and am paranoid over the possibility that I may change my major. What if the classes I take now amount to nothing in my future later? What if I completely change career paths and find that I have wasted God knows how much money on classes that I might discard anyway?
No matter what my decision is, I have to accept that I am always advancing for my future. After all, if I resisted change, I would be taking a step back in my development, not improving anything.
The one thing Dr. Calhoun did not mention that I find very important is to not look back, but accept UNA as our new home. So many people are too easily made homesick and want to go home every weekend, but if they do that, they aren't experiencing anything real. Already, UNA has become my home; I have found my best friends and family (my gosh, my roommate is my mom away from home!). I sleep better in my dorm bed than my house bed. Thank God, the classes are also very interesting and I look forward to going to them.
No matter what happens, I will try to experience everything to its fullest so that I can build my future on what I learn here. And I will keep these key points in mind as I go through life.
Reviewing this week, I see that nothing has changed. Sadly, I still do not have much direction for my future, but I haven't changed my major yet. I commented that UNA was already my home by mid-September. Since then, I have honestly discovered even more of a home here within my circle of friends. I probably spend more of my time in Lafayette forming connections and just enjoying life with my favorite people, the honors kids. We always have movie parties and gaming parties in the commons room, and I practically stay there every night until at least 11pm. I also have found family within the SOAR Counselor team for 2013. Only outgoing, UNA lovers are selected to be counselors, so naturally we have already clicked, even though we haven't done anything SOAR related yet. My big sister and best friend in my sorority is on the SOAR team as well. Her name is Samantha Fotovich. She is definitely one one my role models and someone I highly respect. I believe God destined her to be my big sister, not just for my pledge period, but for my college career, and who knows? maybe my life. Anna is a counselor, too! I'm telling you, this summer is going to be my favorite summer, ever. Roar Lions. Roar Honors. Roar Soar.
September 25, 2012:
This week, Judge Self spoke to us. He told us a lot about his career and how he arrived at the title of judge from being a well-to-do lawyer. He actually took a pay cut to take this job. At first, I thought this was strange, but after hearing what he had to say, I understand his reasons more.
Lawyers have the task of protecting and defending, right? You have the prosecutor and defendant in trial cases. In most cases, there is a guilty person and an innocent person involved. Each has a lawyer fighting for them who has taken the time to dig up evidence and facts to present to the court. What is wrong with this? What if the lawyer appointed to the defendant's case feels the defendant is actually guilty? What if, inside his head, the lawyer thinks, "John Doe killed Jane, and I am supposed to prevent him from going to jail?" Lawyers have the cruel task of defending their clients, no matter what their personal convictions are. In this way, there is not truly justice in some cases. See, the results always depend on which lawyer presented the best case, not necessarily who the jury and judge feels is defending the truth. This, in a way, makes our legal system in America very flawed.
When asked how Judge Self keeps legal matters and his personal values separate all if the time, he admitted, "I don't." Not always can Judge Self bring himself to convict an innocent man. He allows his values to sway his judgment every once in a while. This is not entirely legal, but I must own that I felt a little relief in my heart when Judge Self confided in us with that information.
In America's beginnings, Puritan renegade Roger Williams first proposed the idea of separation of church and state in the 1630s. Though it was first rejected -and he, shunned for it- this policy became accepted later years in America, and we still to this day use separation of church and state. This makes sense because well, we are a melting pot. We do not have an official religion, because we allow our residents to believe in whatever they choose to believe. In most cases, separation of church and state is a good idea. However, I cannot escape the feeling that this deprives justice in many cases.
After all, it is like William Blackstone said, "Better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer."
This week, Judge Self spoke to us. He told us a lot about his career and how he arrived at the title of judge from being a well-to-do lawyer. He actually took a pay cut to take this job. At first, I thought this was strange, but after hearing what he had to say, I understand his reasons more.
Lawyers have the task of protecting and defending, right? You have the prosecutor and defendant in trial cases. In most cases, there is a guilty person and an innocent person involved. Each has a lawyer fighting for them who has taken the time to dig up evidence and facts to present to the court. What is wrong with this? What if the lawyer appointed to the defendant's case feels the defendant is actually guilty? What if, inside his head, the lawyer thinks, "John Doe killed Jane, and I am supposed to prevent him from going to jail?" Lawyers have the cruel task of defending their clients, no matter what their personal convictions are. In this way, there is not truly justice in some cases. See, the results always depend on which lawyer presented the best case, not necessarily who the jury and judge feels is defending the truth. This, in a way, makes our legal system in America very flawed.
When asked how Judge Self keeps legal matters and his personal values separate all if the time, he admitted, "I don't." Not always can Judge Self bring himself to convict an innocent man. He allows his values to sway his judgment every once in a while. This is not entirely legal, but I must own that I felt a little relief in my heart when Judge Self confided in us with that information.
In America's beginnings, Puritan renegade Roger Williams first proposed the idea of separation of church and state in the 1630s. Though it was first rejected -and he, shunned for it- this policy became accepted later years in America, and we still to this day use separation of church and state. This makes sense because well, we are a melting pot. We do not have an official religion, because we allow our residents to believe in whatever they choose to believe. In most cases, separation of church and state is a good idea. However, I cannot escape the feeling that this deprives justice in many cases.
After all, it is like William Blackstone said, "Better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer."
When I was younger, I wanted to be a lawyer. I don't know why. Maybe it was because I was addicted to to Law and Order: SVU. Or maybe because Jodi Piccoult's My Sister's Keeper greatly influenced my life. I still considered pre-law and political science until my senior year of high school. Like management was influenced by my NASA competition, this political drive was acquired from Alabama Girl's State. That was where I truly learned about Senate operations and the basics of government. I actually know four UNA students who are political science majors because of Girl's State or Boy's State. It is truly an amazing honor that I am glad to have experienced.
October 2, 2012:
This week, Max Mauldin, President of Bank Independent, spoke with us about the values of being college students. He spoke of his own personal values, but he also used an example of the bank's values. He held up five posters, one at a time. Each displayed one of the bank's values printed in bold on the high-gloss poster board. As each of the signs flashed, I realized that these were values I believed should be instilled in every business policy. Below are each of the values; they explain how Mr. Mauldin uses them and how I believe they should be used.
People: The people who work at Bank Independent are an asset to the company. Each man pulls his own weight, and should be respected as an asset. The same goes with most things in life. I strongly believe that everyone placed on Earth was put here for a reason. Because each person is meant to further the world, he or she should be treated as if they matter: their thoughts, opinions, values, everything.
Community: The bank employees invest in the community that they work and live in. This means treating the customers as family, not as strangers. In life, connections must be made in order to establish a foundation and hope for progress. These connections require a constantly strengthening relationship among its founders.
Strength: Bank Independent is a safe and sound organization, because it hires people trained in their talents and efficient in those talents. Each person alive is granted at least one talent to develop and prize. People should assume the attitude of Bank Independent and become strengthened in their talents and use them to the best of their ability so that they can hold a secure and stable place in the world.
Service: Service should be provided to customers and team members personally. The key word here is "personally." After all, isn't that what service means? Service is something done for someone in order to help them or improve their condition. The way this works in business is the same in life: If employees are treated personally, they are more likely to be personal and genuine with customers as well. In life, always treat your peers the way you wish to be treated, so that you may be rewarded in tenfold.
And last but not least...
Convenience: To Bank Independent, this means being available for customers when it is needed. People should always be available for those who need them. Respect and trust are gained for those who are dependable and available to go to and seek help from.
Again, there are many things that Mr. Mauldin spoke about, but these are the top five that struck me. Maybe you agree, or disagree, feel free to leave comments.
I am definitely having to keep these values in mind as I started my new job recently. I now work as an academic coach and ACT prep coach. I have to learn to create a community with the students I coach, teach them strength and confidence in the way they test, provide them excellent service. Lastly, I have to be convenient, and work enough hours to make a decent income.
October 7, 2012:
This week in Honors Forum, Mr. Ross Berry, CEO of Shoals Hospital spoke to us. Rather than throw together a professional presentation about the success of his hospital, and speak of how he gained that success, Mr. Berry was real with us. He told us a story that stuck with us, and affected us personally.
Mr. Berry told the story of two men who grew up with different lifestyles. John came from a well-to-do family, attended a private school and was accepted to college. "Chuck" was the child of two immigrants, then was later adopted. When he was five years old, his adopted mother died; when he was twelve, his father died. Chuck was also accepted to college, but had to quit when he was twenty years old. The two wound up working in factories, but all the while, Chuck was going to school for his BS then later MBA degrees. Chuck became a pilot and an open water diver. At the end of the story, Ross Berry revealed that "Chuck" became the CEO of Shoals Hospital, which meant that Chuck was Ross.
This story really hit home for me, because I have best friends who are in unfortunate situations, trying to make something of themselves and get into school soon. This forum session taught me lessons that I will more than likely remember for the rest of my life.
People who want to better themselves will always have supporters, ready to help them and give them a hand up. I strongly agree; people with selfless intentions will be taken care of. This was proven in Mr. Berry's case, as he told us that the number one thing he always wanted to do was help people. He also told us his personal belief about work. "If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life."
Perhaps the only thing one can do to be happy and succeed is
Vera Verum Va Vera Causea: Do the right thing the right way for the right reason.
Here's a funny story for you. Last Wednesday, I was walking out of class (from Bib Graves) and was walking down the stairs. On the first step, I passed out, then fell and hit my head on the last stair. Since then, I've had headaches, been dizzy, had short-term memory loss and say names and words all backwards... My good friend Abbie threatened to take my to the hospital since I refused to go to the infirmary. When I told my mom how serious it was, she told me we had to go to the hospital. Mom asked me to research hospitals in the area, and I automatically chose to go to Shoals...Why? Mr. Berry spoke to us. I liked Mr. Berry, I liked the way he runs his business, and I liked his hospital. Some of his employees were a bit odd, but I can personally attest they know what to do. I've had dizzy issues for over a year, and the doctors back home didn't even know what to test me for. My doctor, Dr. Florida, helped me by giving me my lab report back along with a list of tests I need to have done. It was a very helpful experience.
October 7, 2012:
On the other end of the spectrum, we have Mr. William Lee, commercial farmer. Mr. Lee grew up in a farming family, and thus became a farmer himself. "Farming is a rather different career," he says, "because farming requires not putting a set price on products and dealing with uncertainties." This means that a lot of risk is required to be a farmer. Just like Mr. Berry, Mr. Lee is comfortable in this risk-taking environment. The difference in the two? Mr. Berry chose risk for self-development. Mr. Lee is comfortable in this atmosphere because it was brought on him.
That's right, folks: Mr. William Lee is a commercial farmer, simply because he was raised a farmer. Mr. Lee believes that most people do not choose to start farming or own a farming company by choice; for most people, farming chooses them. Fellow farmers, say it isn't so? In my opinion, farming is a very respectable field to be in! Everybody needs food to live on, and as a majority, well let's be honest, in good ole 'Merica, we like to eat. Farmers supply us with not only the crops we need, but the diversity in crops that we crave.
Personally, I believe the field of farming should generate more interest. Maybe if farmers advertised their field and made it seem more alluring, then more people would want to become farmers, regardless of how they were raised. Anyone can learn anything they want to, it's just a matter of the will to learn. Lastly, if more people decided to go into farming as a career, then farming's success would increase as a whole.
Honestly, I didn't appreciate Mr. Lee all too much... he wasn't very interesting, and took the role of a bitter farmer who was unhappy with life. Generally, I don't listen to unhappy people. Here are my friend's notes from that night:
They say:
This guy is so boring, especially after Mr. Berry.
I don't care about farming.
I just can't force myself to care about what he has to say.
October 23, 2012:
Wesley Desselle, Surgeon of Hellen Keller Hospital, spoke to us in Honors Forum last week. He preached the human values of learning medicine, and informed us students, especially including, but not limited to, nursing students that the medical field is not always pretty.
He exemplified this by first introducing an image from the nine-season hit TV show, Grey's Anatomy. The image paints the picture of gory glory, showing each member of the medical surgeon team gathered around a patient, pumping blood from his heart (basically saving his life, fabulously). Immediately following this fantasized fiction, Dr. Desselle slapped a picture of a man's private area with something like skin grafts on the inner thigh. Next came a rather...nausea-invoking illustration of a rotting foot, belonging to a man who had stepped on a nail. Dr. Desselle's point was that the medical field can often be grueling, and does not always live up to the glitz and glamour television and society in general makes it out to be.
(Personally, I found this rather funny. I saw quite a few nursing majors repressing a quick baby barf as they saw the pictures... Good luck with that career choice!).
But more so than the graphic view of medicine and being a doctor, what struck me were the pros and cons of being a doctor.
The pros, of course, are the satisfaction of helping people, contributing the community you live in and maybe on a more selfish note, the salary.
The cons involve so much more personal details, that I am convinced I could never be a doctor or surgeon. What Dr. Desselle failed to display from Grey's Anatomy is the other side of the show, (the personal one) that proves the sacrifices each doctor has to make for his or her career. *Though doctors earn a decent income, they are often in debt. Doctors also have to make time for family, which is almost impossible to do. Doctors are scheduled for certain work hours, of course, but they have days where they are never off duty. They are on-call and have to stay in the hospital overnight to get any rest. Grey's Anatomy does provide this information. Because of the commitment doctors give to their careers, families are often deprived of the attention they need. Relationships in general lack the growth and support they need, because relationships are a two-way street. Nobody can invest 100% effort while the other person gives nothing. Successful relationships, whether it be friendships, families, dating or marriages, requires equal partnership and work for everyone.
This makes the medical field a little less attractive to me as my own career choice, but it also makes me respect those who will be doctors, greatly.
*I myself am not quite sure why this happens, but it was one of the problems Desselle mentioned, so it is thus included.
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Grey's Anatomy Cast
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This was my favorite blog I did. I just like the design and the whole medical theme, I've got going. I used pictures and a Grey's Anatomy quote! I also used a picture of a girl with psoriasis, which I happen to have. This class taught me how to blog and express myself in different visual ways.
November 6, 2012:
I really don't want to copy anything from my blog on this week, because it wasn't exactly my favorite. Maybe I had writer's block or maybe I wasn't interested in blogging at the time; I'm not sure. However, I did include a great biblical quote I would like to explain.
This verse means a lot to me, because it means keeping love and faithfulness in our lives, always. No matter what is going on, we should keep faith and love.
November 6, 2012:
Lastly, everyone's favorite Corrine Beckinger gave us her spiel on her travels to China. This was my favorite part of the meeting, because well, she just had the best story, in my opinion. Corrine went to China paying only 800 dollars, when the trip would normally cost 3,400 dollars without financial aid. Fortunately, the University gives scholarships of 800 dollars to the first hundred students who apply to study abroad, and 500 dollars to honors students. Corrine went to China as a geography field study. Anyone who knows anything about "field study" knows that it is mostly play, since work becomes fun. The most amazing part about Corrine's trip was that one day, when she and her boyfriend decided to climb the Great Wall, once they got to the top, he proposed to her....Then, he decided to finish out the year in China. Go figure. Either way, I think that sounds amazing, hence the title for my blog this week. Of everything Corrine told us about her trip, I think it sounded like the trip I would enjoy the most. The only problem for me would be that I do not speak a word of Chinese. No, wait! I can count to three! Ichi, ni, san. No, wait.... that's Japanese. Yep, the language barrier would definitely be a problem.After this forum meeting, I know that I am highly interested in studying abroad. I hope that I can find a way and a place, somehow... Until then, I will keep studying about it and appreciate the beautiful campus I already learn at every day. Roar, lions!
This blog was another great one. I actually loved writing it. Study Abroad sounds too interesting. I talked to my dad about the possibility of doing it, and he said maybe. I figure if I do SOAR this year and then internship at the capitol the next summer, then I'll be able to do study abroad my junior year. I am definitely glad these people got to come speak to us, or I wouldn't have considered study abroad.
November 7, 2012:
Audwin Pierre McGee spoke to us this week in forum. I must say, it was rather amazing. He is by far my favorite speaker we have had so far. He talked about remembering our childhood dreams and trying to find a career suitable for us based on those passions. When I was a child, I remember wanting to be a singer (but my voice was pathetic at the time) or a marine biologist (but I am incapable of doing science). Now, I have a better-developed voice, and sing for fun, though not many people know it. I also SCUBA dive, and adore it. I figure if I combine my passions with determination and curiosity, I can at least enjoy these activities without making them my career choice.
Some of my greatest passions are as follows:
Twirling & Dance
Reading & Writing
Singing
Public Speaking!!!
Learning & Working Hard
WINNING
Chasing Perfection
I incorporate these into activities by being a majorette and dancer, being a published author, joining many many many plays and theater productions, by becoming president/manager/leader of the different groups I identity with, and seeking improvement opportunities in everything I do. This is why I finally chose the field of marketing... AND the field of management. Yes, I do plan on becoming a double major. BOOM.
If I have ever seen somebody chase their dreams and become a happy successful person because of it, it's Audwin McGee. He was a really inspiring guy, and I hope that I can find exactly what it is I need to do with my life, like he did. And be happy with it.
November 14, 2012:
Mr. Pierce talked to us about being assertive employees. He told us to "have the fortitude to ask for what you want." He said, "The answer is always no, unless you ask." He told us some of the characteristics employers look for in potential new employees are respect, involvement in the company, and clean social media sites.
I'm going to talk about clean social media sites now...
Personally, I have a Facebook and Twitter site. I do not have an Instagram, because I do not have an iphone. There is no way I would post bad things on my Facebook page. I don't drink or "party", so I don't have to worry about scandalous pictures of me being posted. I also don't use profanity. Oh, and I try not to be negative unless it is about something I need prayer for. Otherwise, I mostly praise that which is good and connect with my friends... what social media is MADE FOR. Too bad there isn't such thing as a "social media trial period" for new Twitter-ers and Facebook-its. Think about it- people could be tested to see if they are worthy of having such sites. The requirements should be as follows: correct grammar, limited pictures of your children or pets, misuse of symbols, pessimists, no pictures of your vehicles unless you drive a lambo, no number games, "tbhs" "lms" or fake relationship statuses, limited "selfies" and mirror pics etc. The list goes on and on, seriously. Mostly, I am being pretentious and sarcastic at this point, but let's be honest- who could disagree with those standards? Probably most businesses would have this blog published in US Weekly.
Have respect, be involved, and people PLEASE have clean social media sites.
I actually thought that this blog had a rather sarcastic tone, but I found my discussion on social media sites fairly relevant to what I'm studying in my comp class. We recently wrote an essay on the effects of the digital revolution. This of course included social media. Though there are many things I can dispute about social media, I must say that I appreciate more than dislike it. Social media allows me to keep up with friends and family back home and in distant places from Florence. It groups posts and sorts them by common interests, which makes posts easier to filter through. Altogether, I thought this week was pretty great.
This experience in the honors program has been one of the greatest of my life so far. I honestly cannot wait until I get even more involved in the honors program and get even closer with the friends I already have. Thanks Vince, for everything you do for us. I am beyond blessed to be a part of such an amazing group of people.
